Observation passenger-car.



PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

- H. ROMUNDERQ OBSERVATION PASSENGER GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1903.

6 SHBBTBSHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 775,938. PATENTED NOV. 29. 1904.

H. ROMUNDER.

OBSERVATION PASSENGER GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD NOV. 29, 1904.

H. ROMUNDER.

OBSERVATION PASSENGER GAE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 22. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

4 74mm @WW W 'PATBNTED NOV. 29, 1904'. H. ROM'EINDER.

OBSERVATION PASSENGER GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

no noun. 7

PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

H. ROMUNDER.

OBSERVATION PASSENGER GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

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nrrn Sans Patented November 529, 1904i.

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OB$ERVATIION PASSENGEW-"GMH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,938, dated November 29, 1904.

Application filed July 22, 1903- Serial No. 166,516. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, 2L1? mar/y con/007%.-

Be it known that I, H ERMANN EDMUND en, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bloomsbury, county of Hunterdon, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Observation Passenger-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a closed passenger-earfor internrban and steam railways of the type commonly known as an observation-car and to construct this car in such a Way as to combine unusual strength and durability with simplicity and cheapness of construction. To that end I provide the car, among other things, with reversible and interchangeable metal side posts and a metal skeleton frame, an improved system of ventilation, an improved window-sash and side panel construction, and an improved roof construction.

One form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure l is a side view of a portion of a car embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of half of the car. Fig. 8 is a side view of a panel-section of the car. Fig. 4: is a vertical section on line 1 l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing the manner in which the steel frame of the side post is riveted to the side sill and bottom frame. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the curved window. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on line et at of Fig. 7, partly broken away. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail showing a corner of the window-sash. Fig. 11 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower side panel. Fig. 12 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 13 is adetail showing in sections the upper part of onehalf of the car. Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 13.

Same letters indicate similar parts in the different drawings.

A is the roof of the car, which is so constructed as to dispense with the monitor or lantern roof now used for ventilation purposes, and thereby considerably increase the interior height of the car without increasing the out side height of the car.

The system of ventilation which i employ is one in which the outer air enters the car through openings u. a between the side posts above the side windows B B, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4t, and 13. These openings are preferably protected by a curved grating, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, and 13, and by ventilating through what might be called the eaves of the overhanging roof A, I secure an ample current of fresh air through the airspace?) between the outer roof and the window-pockets provided in the upper part of the ear-body between the side posts, with absolute protection against cinders, dust, or other local annoyances carried in suspension by the air, the air-space I) being connected. with the interior of the car by means of inner ventilators w, preferably consisting of panel-sashes which can be opened and. closed to regulate the ventilation, the .inner ventilators being arranged considerably higher than the outer ventilators, so that the outside air on entering the hollow space or spaces between the outer roof and inner ceil' ing of the car must travel upward tothe inner ventilators, whereby the impurities held and carried by the air in suspension are deposited on the upper surface of the inner ceiling of the car and only fresh pure air enters the interior of the car, the said window-pockets, consisting, preferably, of an upper and a lower Wood-veneer plate n w, inclosing the upper part of the curved grooves w u, provided in the upper curved part of the side posts. This roof A. extends over the entire upper portion of the car from side to side and from end to end, so as to furnish one continuous strong and permanently-closed cover for the car, and is supported by the braces c o, fastened to the metal-frame side posts and the brackets and letter-face boards on which the bent rafters R R rest. These rafters, consisting, preferably, of T-i ron, are bent as required and suitably secured to the side posts and sufficiently braced to support the roof of the car. The roof-covering consists of wood-veneer plates made of a number of wood-veneer layers, the alternate layers having their grain preferably reversed, all the layers being united under heat and pressure by means of any suitable waterproofcementingcomposition-----such, for

example, as a compound of glue and potashwhereby they form practically one homogeneous plate of wood impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences. This wood-veneer plate is much stronger and more durable than a considerably thicker board with the grain running all in one direction, and this construction obviates the use of tongued-andgrooved boards, which must be bent and shaped by hand and secured to the rafters, then covered with canvas, and painted to produce a weatherproof roof, as now commonly constructed.

C is the bottom frame of the car, to which the side posts D D are secured, as shown in detail in Fig. 6. These side posts of both sides of the car are made of a fixed pattern or shape, so that there are no rights or lefts, but all the side posts are interchangeable and reversible without regard to the width of the car and consist of a metal rib X, preferably T-iron, covered with wood, as shown in Fig. 5. This construction is shown on a larger scale in Fig. 14, which also shows a portion of the cross-bars T, preferably of metal, riveted to one leg of the T-iron frame. These cross-bars T extend the full length of the car and are riveted to the separate side posts near the top, thereby serving to bind them together at the upper curved portion, as they are bound together at the lower straight portion by lateral stifiening-braces m m and by the cornerplates 0 0, the side sills e f, and the bulb iron 71 at the bottom. The upper ends of each opposite set of side posts D D are connected to each other or to a connecting link-piece Z, preferably a metal bar of any desired length, whereby the car may be made of any desired width, the same side posts being employed for narrow and wide cars, the latter ordinarily requiring only a wider floor and a wider roof, any additional widths in the metal bodyframe being produced by the link-pieces Z Z.

Between the side posts are the side sections of which the sides of the car are composed and which consist of the curved windows B and the lower side panels E. g

The car is provided with usual doors F Gr and suitable seats H. A floor K is composed of the floor-timbers d (see Fig. 2) and the side sills, which latterconsist of the wooden beams f, bolted together by bolts g and reinforced on one side by the inner angle-iron h and on the other by the outer bulb iron 6, to which latter the steel side posts are riveted by the rivets j j. The bulb angle-iron and the lower end of the steel side posts are shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

The side posts D extend upright from the floor-level to a height suitable for the sash or window-sill level and then curve broadly, substantially as shown, and terminate at a con venient height in the roof of the car. Metal corner-plates 0 are riveted to the metal part of the side posts and side sills to strengthen the joints of both, and slant stiffening-braces m are provided between adjoining side posts at the lower, straight, and substantially vertical portion and riveted to the metal rib of said side posts to give the car great lateral stiffness.

The lower side panel E is set between each two adjoining side posts and consists, as shown in Fig; 12, of the wood-veneer plates 1 07s, with an air-space Z between them, whereby the car is made warmer in cold weather. Each of these wood-veneer plates is composed of a number of layers of wood veneer, the alternate layers having their grain preferably reversed and all the layers being united under heat and pressureby means of any suitable water proof cementing compositionsuch, for example, as a compound of glue and potash whereby a plate ofwood impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences is formed, which plates are then riveted by means of rivets n a, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, to the side posts and to the slant stifiening-braces m m. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 3, and 11.)

To the upper part of the side panel is secured the sill or window-stool p by screws or otherwise. Upon this sill p the curved windows B rest when closed. These windows, as shown more in detail in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, are constructed absolutely strong and the rable and curved to conform to the grooves u in the side posts, in which said grooves they slide when raised or lowered. They are preferably constructed, as shown in Fig. 9, with upright stiles r r, which are suitably connected to the top and bottom rail, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and consist each of wood facings mounted upon what I call Z- shaped pieces, which is preferably of metal or other strong and malleable material, so arranged that one part of the Z-shaped piece is visible on the outside of the sash and the other part on the inside, the wood facings being firmly held thereto by the screws t t or otherwise. As shown in Fig. 8, these upright stiles are curved, the curvature corresponding with that of the side-post grooves, and by reason of the curvature thus obtained the sash is adapted to rise and fall in the curved grooves 20 u of the side posts D, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 13. There are two of these grooves, preferably on concentric curves, so that there may be two windows separately movable and adapted to dififerent seasons of the year. The glass pane of the window is preferably embedded in rubber or other yielding substance, and by reason of the peculiar construction of the upright stiles r1 of the window-sash the glass may be set nearly, if not quite, in the center of the sash.

When open, each window rests in the up per part of the groove out of the way under the roof where the grooves a a are covered l by the inner and outer wood-veneer plates '2;

ICC

n, which serve as a window-pocket and inner ceiling of the car and prevent the air entering through the grated opening a from entering the interior of the car except through the ventilators w, as shown by the arrow in Figs. 52 and 13. By means of this construction I obtain a closed observation passenger-car adapted for use in all weathers upon steam-railways and also for street and interurban trafiic. This car while supplying a nearly continuous window space has a substantial steel or iron framework consisting of the side posts connected to cross-bars above and to side sills and cornor-plates below and with lateral stiffening-braces at the lower straight portion of the side posts, and this skeleton structure is adapted to be used for cars of varying widths, because the construction of the sides of the car is independent of the width of the car, the same side posts and side sections being employed for narrow and wide cars, which ordinarily necessitates only a wider floor and a wider roof, any additional width required being produced by link-pieces of required length, preferably of metal, being riveted to the top ends of opposite side posts.

The skeleton metal structure, carefully and strongly riveted together, is, as explainednvell covered on the inside and on the outside of the car with wood, either solid or veneer, and the woodwork is preferably constructed, as described, of wood-veneer plates consisting of a number of layers of wood veneer, the grain of alternate layers being preferably reversed and united by any suitable waterproof cementing composition under heat and pressure, whereby they form practically one homogencous plate of wood impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences, and the car, of course, provided with electric or other means of lighting, chairs or other seats, and the details and ornamentations usual to such structures. A car thus constructed possesses great strength and durability at considerably-reduced manufacturing cost and combines perfect ventilation with complete protection against the weather and greatest possible com fort and convenience to the passengers on account of the high roomy interior of the car, the large curved side windows, and the per feet ventilation.

1. A steel-frame passenger-car composed of a number of reversible and interchangeable side posts consisting of a metal frame covered with wood, the lower portion of which is substantially vertical while the upper portion is curved on the arc of a circle, the side posts being riveted at the bottom to the side sills of the bottom frame of the car, which side sills preferably consist of wooden beams reinforced by metal bars, preferably angle or bulb angle iron, and so arranged at the top that each opposite set of side posts can be riveted together or to a link-piece, preferably of a" ll metal connecting them, whereby the car may be manufactured of any desired width; corner-plates, preferably of metal, strengthening the joints of the side posts and side sills, slant stiffening-braces, preferably of metal, between the lower vertical part of adjoining side posts, giving the side posts and the carbody great lateral stiffness; and cross-bars, preferably of metal, extending the full length ofthe car-body in the upper curved part of the side posts and riveted to said side posts, thereby serving to bind them together near the top.

2. A passenger-car composed of a metal skeleton frame consisting of metal-rib side posts covered with wood, riveted at the bottom to the metal part of the side sills of the car, and at the top to each other or to a linkpiece connecting them, whereby the car may be made wider or narrower as required; lateral stiffening-braces, preferably of metal, between the lower straight portion of said side posts and riveted thereto; metal cross-bars extending the length of the car and riveted to the side posts at the upper curved portion thereof; a number of side sections, each composed of a lower side panel and one or two curved windows, the side panel consisting of water and weather proof wood-veneer plates riveted to the steel framing of the car, and the window or windows being movable in the grooves of the side posts and adapted to cocupy the lower portion of the grooves and rest against the window-sill when closed, and to be raised part or all the way up into a window-pocket provided between adjoinii'ig side posts and inclosing the upper portion of the grooves and protecting the curved window or windowswhen open; bent rafters, preferably of metal, suitably secured to the side posts and sufiiciently braced to support the roof of the car which consists of water and weather proof wood-veneer plates, forming practically one continuous closed roof suitably secured to said bent rafters and overhanging the body of the car; outer ventilators between the side posts under the eaves of the overhanging roof and inner ventilators in the ceiling of the car.

3. A passengar-car provided with one continuous roof composed of worm-veneer plates consisting of two or more layers of wood veneer with the grain of alternate layers prcferably reversed, and all the layers united by a waterproof cementing composition under heat and pressure, whereby they form practically one homogei'ieous plate of wood, impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences; said roof overhanging the body of the car so that one or more hollow spaces are formed between the outer roof and the inner ceiling of the car; the ventilation of the car being secured through outer ventilators in openings between the side posts under the caves of the overhanging roof, above the side windows, said openings being preferably covered by a grating or otherwise; and inner ventilators in openings in the inner ceiling of the car between the top part of the side posts, said inner ventilators consisting preferably of panel sashes which can be opened and closed as required, to regulate the ventilation of the car; the inner ventilators being arranged considerably higher than the outer ventilators so that the outside air on entering the hollow space or spaces between the outer roof and inner ceiling of the car, must travel upward to the inner ventilators, whereby the impurities held and carried by the air in suspension, are deposited on the upper surface of the inner ceiling of the car, and fresh pure air only enters the interior of the car.

4. A passenger-car, the sides of which are composed of a number of reversible and interchangeable side posts, consisting of metal rib and wood filling, the lower portion of which is straight and substantially vertical and the upper portion is curved and provided with one or two curved and preferably concentric grooves; side panels between the lower straight portion of said side posts, said side panels consisting of an inner and an outer wood-veneer plate, made of two or more layers of wood veneer, the grain of alternate layers being preferably reversed, united by a waterproof cementing composition under heat and pressure, thereby forming practically one homogeneous plate of wood, impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences; said veneer plates being riveted to adjoining side posts and to lateral stiffening-braces between said side posts and so arranged as to leave one or more air-spaces between the wood-veneer plates forming the inner and outer walls of the side panels; a window-sill secured to the upper part of the side panel and one or two large curved windows resting, when closed, upon the said window-sill or window-stool and movable in the grooves provided in the upper circular part of the side posts.

5. A passenger-car provided with a number of reversible and interchangeable side posts consisting of a metal rib covered with wood, riveted at the bottom preferably to bulb angle-iron, forming a part of the side sills of the car; the lower portion of said side posts being straight and substantially vertical, while the upper portion is curved and provided with one or two grooves adapted to receive one or two curved movable windows; said side posts being connected near the top by cross-bars, preferably of metal, and at the lower straight portion by lateral stiifeningbraces, preferably of metal, thus forming a metal skeleton structure for the sides of the car. 7

6. A steel skeleton-frame passenger-car composed of a suitable bottom framing formed by side and cross sills consisting preferably of wood beams reinforced by metal bars; a number of reversible and interchangeable side posts consisting of metal rib and wood filling, the lower portion of which is straight and substantially vertical and the upper portion curved on the are of a circle, said side posts being suitably connected to said bottom framing and with each other; bent rafters, preferably of metal, suitably connected to said side posts; one continuous roof,consisting of woodveneer plates formed each of two or more layers of wood veneer, united with reversed grain by means of a waterproof cementing composition under heat and pressiire, thereby forming practically one homogeneous plate of wood,impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences; said roof being secured to said bent rafters and overhanging the body of the car so that an air-space is formed between the said roof and the inner ceiling of the car, communicating with outer ventilators between the side posts under the caves of the overhanging roof, and inner ventilators provided in the ceiling of the car between the top part of the side posts, said inner ventilators being preferably arranged so as to be opened and closed in order to regulate the ventilation; side sections between the side posts, consisting of large curved side windows movable in grooves provided in the upper circular part of the side posts, and lower side panels, consisting of a window-sill and an inner and an outer wall formed of wood-veneer plates consisting each of two or more layers of wood veneer, united with reversed grain by means of a waterproof cementing composition under heat and pressure, thereby forming practically one homogeneous plate of wood, impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences; said inner and outer wall being suitably connected so as to leave air-spaces between the wood-veneer plates.

7. A passenger-car composed of a metal skeleton frame consisting of a metal bottom framing, reversible and interchangeable side posts, preferably of T-iron, the lower portion of which is straight and substantially vertical and the upper portion from the line of the window-sill on, curved on the arc of a circle; curved metal rafters and lateral metal stiffening-bars, all riveted together to form the metal frame of the car, to which the woodwork and detailed finish of the car is suitably attached, the woodwork consisting of wood veneer plates made of two or more layers of wood veneer, the grain of alternate layers being preferably reversed, and all the layers being united by awaterproof cementing composition under heat and pressure, thereby forming practically one homogeneous plate of wood, impervious to moisture and atmospheric influences.

HERMANN RonUNDER.

Vitnesses:

CARL S. FIEDLER, WALTER DANDLIKER.

ITO 

